Pneumatic stacker.



'Application filed Alig. 6, 1902A A (N'o Model.) 2'sh4ets'sheef 1.

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PNEumATlc smokes. (Application me@ Aug. ,4 1902.)

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

. (No Model.)

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Nrrn STATES ATENT trice.

ALBERT A. STELTING, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN.

PN EU IVIATIC STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,465, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed August G, 1902. Serial No. 118,675. (No model.)

To all whom, t mag/,concerns Be it known that I, ALBERT A. STELTING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wis` consin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Stackers, of which the following is a specification, refercnce being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

My invention relates to pneumatic stackers for threshing-machines; and it consists more particularly in means for changing the speed of the stacker-fan relative to the speed of the threshing-cylinder or other mechanism of the threshing apparatus.

Heretofore difficulty has been experienced where the threshing-cylinder was driven with that speed which was necessary for securing the best result under the existing conditions of the grain being threshed from blowing the straw harder than was necessary-as, for instance, at the tops of stacks or where the grain was dry-or, on the other hand, from delivering the straw with less force than was necessary for the best results. By my present invention I obviate all such difficulties and enable the threshing mechanism to be driven at that speed best under the circumstances and also the stacker-fan to be driven at the proper speed,according to the conditions of the straw or the height, location, or condition of the stack, and, furthermore, I am able to vary such relative speed as any change in conditions may render necessary.

The invention consistsin the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting my irnprovements to the particular details of construction illustrated.

In said drawings, Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional view showing a stacker-fan, a speed-changing mechanism therefor, and so much of a threshing-machine as is necessary for an understanding of the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of a threshing-machine embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates the stacker-fan, in this instance arranged in a manner as to be rotated thereby.

substantially horizontal position and adapted to take in through its upwardly-turned eye straw from the straw-chamber 2 of the threshing-machine B, a portion of the latter being indicated at 3. The straw so received is delivered by the fan to the stacker-duct 4, through which it passes upward in the usual manner to the point of delivery for forming a stack A or for other purpose. Said fan is xed on a driving-shaft 5, and on the latter is also fixed a friction-wheel o', of suitable material. This wheel or disk 6 is frictionally engaged on its outer or lower surface by a friction-pulley 7, of the same or of different material, as will best serve the purpose of a good driving contact between said disk and pulley, the pulley being connected with a driving-shaft 8 in such In the construction shown this connection comprises a longitudinal groove 9 in the shaft, engaged by a spline on the pulley in a well-known manner to allow the longitudinal adjustment of the pulley on the shaft, while its driving connection is maintained. The shaft 8 is mounted in bearings 9X, attached to the frame of the threshing mechanism, and is held from longitudinal movement by collars l0, fixed on the shaft by set-screws 11. The shaft 8 is adapted to receive power from any suitable part of the threshing mechanism by a belt 12, engaging a pulley 13 fixed on said shaft. The shaft 8 is arranged more or less transversely of the disk 6, as illustrated, so that the adjustment of the pulley '7 longitudinally on said shaft will carry the pulley toward or from the center of the disk 6; When the pulley is adjusted nearer to said center, the fan will be run at a higher speed relative to that of the cylinder or threshing mechanism, and when it is adjusted outward toward the periphery of the disk (i the speed of the fan l Will be relatively lessened. By such adjustment all necessary conditions in properly threshing the straw and in properly stacking it can be met. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of a disk 6 with a flatfriction-surface, but the parts 6 and 7 may be of cone shape; but I believe the arrangement shown, all things considered, to be most advantageous.

The adjustment of the friction-pulley 7 may be accomplished by various means. I have ICCI Vshown for this purpose a transverse shifting rod 14, arranged substantially parallel with the shaft 8 and mounted in bearing-brackets 15 and 16, which will be attached to the thresher-frame.

l7isahand-wheel having an internal screwthread engaging the corresponding thread 1S on the end of the rod 14, said wheel being held from longitudinal movement by the bracket l5.

19 is a yoke fixed on the rod 14 and engaging the pulley '7 in such manner that it is -adapted to shift and control its longitudinal position on the shaft 8 without interfering with its rotation. Such connection may consist of pins 20, carried by the arms of the yoke 19 and fitting in a peripheral groove 21 in the hub of the pulley 7 or screwed into a ring fitting in said hub, as will be readily understood. The yoke 19 may be adjustable on the shaft 14, as by being confined between adjustable nuts 22, screwed on said rod.

During the operation of the friction members 6 and 7 it is desirable that they be held together with a proper degree of pressure and that means be provided for regulating said pressure. To this end I provide such pressure causing and regulating means comprising a screw-threaded extension 23 ofthe shaft 5, supported by a bracket 24' on a iXed part of the thresher-frame. At the outer side of the bracket 24 is a loose collar 26 on the eX- tension 23, beyond the said collar a spring 27, and beyond the latter one or more set-nuts 28, screwed on said extension. It will be seen that by the adjustment of the nuts the spring 27 maybe put under more or less tension and caused to draw the shaft 5 and its disk 6 with more or less force against the disk 7, thus determining the engaging pressure of the parts 6 and 7. The opposing ends of the bracket 24 and collar26 are formed with proper bearing-surfaces for a set of antifriction-balls 29.

It will be understood that various forms of speed-chan gin g mechanisms may be employed interposed between the stacker-fan which delivers the straw and the threshing-cylinder C or mechanism which sets the straw in motion and delivers it to said fan without departing from the spirit of my invention, the latter comprising a straw-threshing or other strawsupplying mechanism, a straw delivering or stacking fan, power-transmitting mechanism which causes the supplying mechanism and fan to run together, and means for changing the speed of said fan relative to that of the threshing or supplying mechanism. In the construction shown the cylinder C constitutes the initial straw-supplying mechanism and the straw-conveying table C', of known construction and operation, furnishes a means for delivering the straw to the chamber 2 and fan l.

The invention further relates to changing the elevation or inclination or length of the stacker or straw-delivering device or duct,

with a corresponding change in the speed of the fan. Thus when the straw-stack. is of low elevation, as indicated by dotted lines at 30 in Fig. 3, less fan power and speed are necessary for the conveyance of the straw to a relatively low height. As the stack growssay to the height shown at iii-greater speed of the fan is necessary for the proper delivery of the straw, so when the straw is wet and heavy the speed of the fan should be greater than when it is dry and light; but in all these cases the fan is driven from a prime motor, (not necessary to be herein shown,) such as a traction-engine, whose speed it is not feasible or advisable to change to regulate the fan as the above-mentioned conditions arise or change or whose speed is governed by the required average speed i'or the best results in threshing of the threshingcylinder with which the prim e motor is ordinarily connected to drive it. By my improvements the speed of the stacker-fan can be modified as required irrespective of any change in the speed of the prime motor. The speed of the fan may alsobe temporarily increased to give an air-pressure that will blow out wads of straw with which the duct has been wholly or partially obstructed.

lVhat I claim is- Y 1. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination ofastraw-supplying mechanism,astackerfan, means for delivering the straw to and from said fan, power mechanism acting to cause said straw-supplying mechanism and fan to run together for their successive action on the straw, and means for changing the speed of said fan relative to that of said straw-supplying mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of the threshing-cylinder, the stacker-fan, means for conducting the straw from said cylinder to the fan, a stacker-conduit leading from the fan, power mechanism connecting the threshing-cylinder and the fan and causing them to run together in their action upon the straw, and means for changing the speed of said fan relative to that of the threshingcylinder.

3. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of a stacker-fan, mechanism for actuating the same, straw-delivery means arranged to cause the straw to be acted on by the blast from said fan, said delivery means being adjustable to dii'lerent elevations, and a speedchanging device for the fan comprised in said actuating mechanism and operable independently of the speed of any prime motor which may be employed, whereby the speed of the fan may be regulated according to the elevation of said straw-delivery means, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of an inclinable stacker-duct, a stacker-fan adapted to force straw therethrough, and actuating means for the fan comprising a speedchanging device operable independently of IOO IIO

any prime motor to regulate the speed of the fan according to the inclination of the duct, substantially as set forth.

5. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of a longitudinally-extensible stacker, a fan adapted to supply an air-blast to the straw conveyed by said stacker, and actuating means for the fan comprising a speed-changing device operable independently of any prime motor to regulate the speed of the fan according to the length of the stacker, substantially as set forth.

r 6. In a pneumatic stacker, the combination of a straw guiding and delivering device, a fan adapted to supply an air-blast to the straw conveyed by the said delivery device, said fan being arranged at an angle to a Vertical position, a transverse shaft, power-trans- In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3o in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ALBERT A. STELTING.

Witnesses:

J. N. STEBBINs, WM. HELM. 

